Monday, December 17, 2012

J.Grigsby
Crawford recounts his experiences in the Peace Corps, in ‘The Gringo: A
Memoir’, garnering him praise from Chevy Chase, noteworthy

individuals, and readers

As
a young man in the Peace Corps, J. Grigsby Crawford had harrowing
experiences and exciting adventures. Within a few weeks of his arrival
in South America, he narrowly escaped from a kidnapping plot hatched by
the people he was sent there to help. The Gringo: A Memoir chronicles this and other adventures that are certain to entice readers and keep them at the edge of their seat.

Crawford’s
journey is one that is filled with danger, drugs, and sex. Despite
facing many adversities, including serious illness, he perseveres,
spending two years in the Amazon.

On
the surface, it is a coming-of-age tale about a young man who is faced
with gritty realities. Beneath the surface, Crawford reveals the true
nature of the Peace Corps, which he calls “a government agency that is
long past its prime—and dangerously so”. While his story and the
underlying message are serious and the danger that he faces was real,
Crawford promises that The Gringo is “both hilarious and heartbreaking”.

The Gringo has
already garnered praise for noteworthy individuals, including Chevy
Chase, who calls the book a “must-read”. G. Brown, an award-winning
author and rock and roll journalist call it “the Moby Dick of Peace
Corps stories” and compares the writing style to that of Hunter S.
Thompson (“had he lived a life of service”).

Crawford
seamlessly interweaves a cast of flawed characters with vivid
depictions, exciting locales, honesty, wisdom, and a sardonic outlook
for a read that is truly unique. Just as Crawford got more than he
bargained for signing up for the Peace Corps, readers, too, will get
more than they bargained for, but in a good way.J. Grigsby CrawfordJ.
Grigsby Crawford grew up in the Great American West. He graduated with
honors from the George Washington University with a degree in Political
Science & English. Upon graduating, he joined the Peace Corps. His
nearly two and a half years in Ecuador—first on the coast and later,
after a failed abduction attempt, in the Amazonian region—provided the
material for his first book, The Gringo. As a journalist, Mr. Crawford
has covered everything from presidential primaries and politics to
murder and local mosquito populations. His writing has appeared in Congressional Quarterly, the Colorado Daily newspaper, Mile High Sports Magazine,
and various blogs, ranging in topics from sports to men's fashion. He
lives, somewhat peacefully, in a cozy little neighborhood tucked in
Northwest Washington, D.C.For more information, please visit http://www.jgrigsby.com/.Read J. Grigsby Crawford’s blog at http://www.jgrigsby.com/blog.html.

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For media inquiries or to request a review copy, please contact:Grigsby Crawfordgrigscrawford@gmail.com